Between the Animated, Universe, and ROTF lines, 2009 was quite the 25th anniversary for TFs. And I can think of no better way to wrap up the year than with a review of the 25th anniversary release of Generation 1 Optimus Prime!

Vehicle Mode: Optimus Prime is a Freightliner COE(Cab Over Engine) Dual-Axle semi truck. His cab measures about 12.5 cm(4 ( Read more... )

In 1994, Botcon, a convention dedicated to Transformers, was held in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Only about 175 people attended, but it was enough to ensure that the convention would survive another year. 15 years and a few regime changes later, Botcon is going stronger than ever, with attendance regularly surpassing the 1,000 mark. I went to my first ( Read more... )

For years, the notion of a live action Transformers movie was nothing more than a fantasy. Sure, it’d be cool, sure, it’d be fun, sure, it’d be awesome, but Hollywood would never actually do it. But on July 4, 2007, Transformers, a live action film directed by Michael Bay and starring Shia LeBeouf debuted in theatres! In addition to familiar ( Read more... )

Launched in late 2006, Transformers: Classics gave many fans what they had been vying for ever since Beast Wars: updated G1 characters with superior poseability, play value, and durability. Characters such as the looming, lethal, and loveable Dinobot leader, Grimlock.

Dino Mode: From nose to tail tip, Grimlock measures a good 21 cm(8.3”) long and ( Read more... )

Launched in 2005, Transformers: Cybertron rounded out the trilogy that began with Armada. Instead of Mini-Cons or Powerlinking, Cyber Planet Keys were employed to unlock Transformers’ special abilities. After the Autobots’ attempt to destroy his spark failed, the dark god Unicron fashioned a much smaller body for himself by annihilating the planet ( Read more... )

Transformers: Energon took the Powerlinxing gimmick to a whole new level, giving us Autobots that could double up to form single robots with increased power. Also Decepticons with hyper-powered weapons. And finally, Omnicons and Terrorcons, small robots that could convert energon into weapons for themselves and their larger companions. Cruellock is ( Read more... )

In 2002, Hasbro sent the fandom into a frenzy with the launch of the all-new Transformers: Armada. Now the Autobots and Decepticons were battling over the Mini-Cons: tiny TFs who could link up with larger ‘bots in order to increase the latter’s power and unlock special abilities. Leading the Autobot forces is Optimus Prime, along with his Mini-Con ( Read more... )

To satisfy consumer demand while they planned out their all-new franchise, Hasbro imported Takara’s Car Robots line under the new name of Robots in Disguise. Among the core cast was X-Brawn, a rugged Autobot cowboy with strength and firepower to spare.

Vehicle Mode: X-Brawn closely resembles a Mercedes-Benz M-class AMG, albeit with a few tweaks to ( Read more... )

In 1999, Beast Wars became Beast Machines: heroic Optimus Primal leading his technorganic Maximals against the evil Megatron and his army of Vehicons for control of Cybertron. Among the many characters not featured in the cartoon was Night Viper, one of only two snake TFs to date.

Beast Mode: Night Viper is a king cobra, largest of all venomous ( Read more... )

1996 marked the beginning of the Beast Wars. Instead of vehicular Autobots and Decepticons, you had bestial Maximals and Predacons. The toys were amazingly detailed, wonderfully poseable, and ranged from very to semi-accurate in beast mode. Topping it all off was a fantastic CGI cartoon that ended up lasting three seasons. The iniquitous Predacon ( Read more... )